What is the ParaPathways Assessment?

What ParaPathways is

ParaPathways is the new assessment from ETS, the same group that built the older ParaPro. If you are applying to be a paraprofessional (a teacher's aide, an instructional assistant, a classroom support staffer) in a school that requires a test, this is most likely the one you will take. It launched on September 1, 2025, and it becomes the standard exam once the ParaPro retires after August 31, 2026.

Think of it as a friendlier, more job-focused update. Instead of one long block of questions, it splits into two short subtests so the basic-skills part and the math part each stand on their own. You can take both in one sitting, or schedule them apart if that fits your week better.

Worried about a score you already earned? You do not need to start over. A ParaPro score you have already passed stays valid for about 10 years, so this transition is only about people testing fresh after the cutover date.

The two subtests

ParaPathways is made of two parts, and each one gets its own score. You can think of them as two separate finish lines. Here is what each looks like.

Because they are scored separately, a strong Reading and Writing score cannot rescue a weak Math score, and the other way around. You pass each one on its own. The upside is that if you only fall short on one, you retake just that subtest, not the whole exam.

How scoring works

Each subtest is scored on a 310 to 350 scale, and you receive two scores rather than one combined number. This trips people up at first, so it is worth saying plainly: there is no single ParaPathways total. Your report shows a Reading and Writing score and a Mathematics score, side by side.

• ETS recommends 332 for Reading and Writing.
• ETS recommends 334 for Mathematics.
• States set their own cutoffs. Lower-adopter states like Arkansas, Washington, and Missouri use 324 or 325.

The number you actually need depends on where you plan to work. Check your state before you schedule so you know the target you are aiming for. You can look it up on our passing score by state page.

Format and test day

The whole thing runs 145 minutes across both subtests. The questions split roughly two-thirds basic skills (the reading, writing, and math you would expect) and one-third classroom-application questions that ask how you would use those skills with real students. That second group is what makes ParaPathways feel closer to the actual job.

• A calculator is allowed on the Math subtest. It is an on-screen four-function calculator, provided for you, so leave your own at home.
• The fee is $75 to test at home or $59 at a test center. A single-subtest retake costs less than a full sitting.
• Your scores stay valid for about 10 years, so passing now carries you through several job searches.

Testing at home is convenient, but it does come with a quiet room and webcam requirements. If your space is noisy or your internet is shaky, the test center is the calmer choice and a little cheaper too.

How to get ready

You do not have to study everything at once. Here is the path that has worked for the aides I have coached, in the order I would do it.

• Start with the free diagnostic so you can see where you stand today. It is the fastest way to find your two or three weak spots.
• Work through the subtest guides for Reading and Writing and Mathematics one at a time.
• Then sit with the full study book to fill any gaps and rehearse the classroom-application questions.

Coming from the old exam? Our ParaPathways vs ParaPro comparison shows exactly what changed, and the ParaPathways practice test lets you rehearse the new format before test day. A little structured practice goes a long way, and you are more ready than you think.

Frequently asked questions